I'm getting a 135mm F2 for a Canon FF DSLR for portraiture. Not buying new, and it looks like finding a 135MM prime in the used market is a challenge.
How is the manual focus Samyang 135mm f/2? It's cost effective, but focus / aperture is manual.
And if i come across a Samyang, what are the things one must check before buying?
Are you planning to shoot still objects with it or portraits?
Quote from: Monster on September 26, 2025, 01:57:15 AMAre you planning to shoot still objects with it or portraits?
Mainly for portraits and background blur bokehs.
I understand that 135mm expects the subject to be far away from camera to achieve that, but thats okay.
I have an old canon dslr, with just 17-40 F4 and a 50mm F1.8 prime.
For some reason I always keep going to the 50mm prime most of the time. So the intention is to get prime only, I don't mind moving around.
I might as well get a 35mm prime or something around that range replacing the 17-40. For now, looking to get a telephoto prime, preferably 135mm.
Quote from: Robin on September 26, 2025, 07:54:16 AMQuote from: Monster on September 26, 2025, 01:57:15 AMAre you planning to shoot still objects with it or portraits?
Mainly for portraits and background blur bokehs.
I understand that 135mm expects the subject to be far away from camera to achieve that, but thats okay.
I have an old canon dslr, with just 17-40 F4 and a 50mm F1.8 prime.
For some reason I always keep going to the 50mm prime most of the time. So the intention is to get prime only, I don't mind moving around.
I might as well get a 35mm prime or something around that range replacing the 17-40. For now, looking to get a telephoto prime, preferably 135mm.
It's gonna be really hard focusing a manual 135mm lens.
Quote from: Monster on September 26, 2025, 10:10:18 PMIt's gonna be really hard focusing a manual 135mm lens.
Point noted.
Also the camera doesn't have live view, that will make it even more difficult.
I'll stick to AF lens in that case. BTW, are there any cheap telephoto primes available particularly for portraits?
Quote from: Robin on September 27, 2025, 01:04:38 AMQuote from: Monster on September 26, 2025, 10:10:18 PMIt's gonna be really hard focusing a manual 135mm lens.
Point noted.
Also the camera doesn't have live view, that will make it even more difficult.
I'll stick to AF lens in that case. BTW, are there any cheap telephoto primes available particularly for portraits?
What budget range are you looking into?
Quote from: Monster on September 28, 2025, 03:08:25 AMWhat budget range are you looking into?
20 to 30k for a used telephoto prime.